Circular loom



Jan. 20, 1959 M. M. P. JASlENSKl 2,869,586

' CIRCULAR LOOM Filed April 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J JQ OMWV am+o r:Ma r Mar K" TASI'EALS Kl Jan. 20, 1959 M. M. P. JASlENSl (l 2,869,586

CIRCULAR LOOM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1956 lfllllllilllll V g 25VI 9m Van-I 0 r Marcel Marie fi'erra Jan. 20, 1959 M. M. P. JASIENSKI2,869,586

CIRCULAR LOOM Filed April 9, 19 56 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Judah-For Mann! fe- \TASIE 'NSKI M 2,869,586 CIRCULAR room Marcel Marie PierreJasienslri, lssy-Les-Moulineaux, France, assignor to Compagnie FrancaiseOthermo, Paris, France, a French body corporate Application April 9,H56, Serial No. 6,895 Claims priority, application France April 13, W552 Claims. (in. ra -1s;

The present invention relates to circular looms.

Itis known that in such machines the weaving speed is limited notably bythe inertia of the "members undergoing alternating movements and theiraccelerations, by friction between sliding members and by float andimpacts due to play between the various moving members.

The members which undergo alternating movements are those pertaining tothe warp thread crossing devices, that is the thread guides and theirassociated controls; and the sliding members which cause friction, floatand impacts are in parhcular the rollers, their conjugated earns, theshuttles and their conjugated slides.

in looms of known type, the warp thread crossing devices are relativelyheavy, either because, in addition to crossing of the warp threads, theyperform other functions, such as propelling the shuttles, whichnecessitates a robustness incompatible with lightness, or because theyensure the simultaneous crossing of two groups of warp threads, thecrossing being effected by a translation displacement of thread guides.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved circular loomwhich results in, notably, a considerably increased weavingspeed causedparticularly by a novel driving of the shuttles, an improved guiding ofthe latter, a reduction in the number of members undergoing alternatingmovements, and a reduction in their weight asso- 4 ciated with slowmovements and small accelerations, whereby the assemblage has a reducedinertia.

The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings to which the inventionis in no way limited.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical view, partly in cross-section, of a circular loomembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical radial sectional View thereof on an enlarged scaleby reference to axis XX of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the loom;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevational view on an enlarged scale showing thedriving device driving the grooved pulley which pulls, and if desiredreceives, the woven r article;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, with a part cut away, of the reversinggear train co-operating with the grooved pulley shown in Fig. 4, thistrain being shown in one of its two positions;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the gear train in its other position,and Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--ll of Fig. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE LOOM The loom shown in the figures is designed toweave about its vertical axis XX (Fig. 1.) the work or circular tubularfabric the upper end of which is pulled vertieally upwardly (arrow 1) asit is woven at its lower 2,869,586 Patented Jan, 20, 1959 end. This workconsists of a weft composed of threads a which are wound helically and awarp composed of longitudinal threads b interlaced with the weftthreads.

The loom comprises, broadly considered, a frame A and driving means; adevice B disposed on the axis XX for guiding the warp and weft threadsin the region in which the circular tubular fabric 0 is woven; a deviceC comprising shuttles mounted for rotation about the axis XX forsupplying the Weft thread, the loom shown in the figures comprising twoshuttles so that the weaving is effected with two weft threads a and adevices D arranged around the loom and supplying the various warpthreads such as b b b [1 a device E adapted to pull on and receive thetubular fabric 0; a mechanism F adapted to control the device B.

Each of these devices will now be described in detail.

(a) The frame A and driving means The frame A comprises a support formedof various members 1, suitably assembled by welding or otherwise, and onwhich rests a horizontal table 2 provided with a central aperture 3 towhich is connected a curved tube 4. The latter is provided for thepurpose of introducing, if desired, in the tubular fabric 0 a centralpart previously formed by a first weaving or other operation.

One of the vertical walls of the support 1 carries an electric motorwhose power supply circuit 5* is connected to the main supply 5? by acontactor 5. The control of the latter is by means of a relay 5controlled by a manually-operated switch 5 The output shaft of the motor5 is connected 'to a speed reducer 6 whose output shaft 7is connected,for example, through a pulley 8, a belt 9 and another pulley it to avertical shaft 11. The latter is journalled in a bearing support 12attached to the under side of the table 2. This shaft 11 controlsthemovements of the various component parts ofthe loom as will beexplained hereinunder.

(b) Work guih'iiig device B This device is disposed on the axis XX. Thetable 2 carries a central tube 13 in which is screw-threadedly engaged asleeve 14 forming an extension. Screwedthreadedly engaged in the upperend of the latter is a tubular or conical weaving nozzle 15 around whichthe weft threads a and a are wound and tightened. Disposed above thisweaving nozzle 15 and on the axis XX is a fixed ring 16, the lowerperipheral edge of its aperture or throat serving as a guide for thevarious warp threads b. This ring 16 is supported by an arm 17 fixed tothe housing 18 of the mechanism F to be described hereinunder, thishousing being fixed to the frame A by a column 19.

(c) The device feeding the weft threads a and a Mounted on the table 2for rotation about the axis XX by means of the central tube 13 and acentering and supporting anti-friction bearing 20 (Figs. 1 and 2), is awheel 21. The latter comprises on its lower face internal teeth 22. andon its periphery external teeth 23.

The internal teeth 22 mesh with a gear pinion 24 keyed on the upper endof the shaft 11 connected to the motor 5 through the transmissioncomprising elements 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6. Thus this motor drives the wheel21 about the axis XX, for example in the direction of arrow f (Fig. 3).p

The external teeth 23 of the wheel 21 mesh with lower auxiliary gearpinions 25 of a number of pairs of gears each pair being formed of alower auxiliary gear 25 and an upper driving gear 26. I

The gears 25 and 26 of each pair of gears are keyed on the same verticalshaft 27 which has an axis YY and is journalled in a fixed block 29 bymeans of rings 23 of roller bearings. The block 29, which in radialaxial section is substantially L-shaped, is superimposed on thewheel'2ll, there being provided between the latter and the block roomfor the gears 25. The block rests at 3'1) (Figs. 1 and 2) on theperiphery of the table 2 to which it is fixed by any suitable means (notshown).

The axes YY of the shafts 27 are evenly spaced apart on a geometriccylinder which is indicate-d at ZZ in Fig. 3 and is centered on the axisXX, the angle subtended at the centre by two immediately adjacent axes(Fig. 3) having a certain value x.

Meshing with the upper driving gears 26 are teeth 31 provided along thearcuate portions of sector gears which form shuttles. In the case. ofthe presently-described loom with two weft threads, there are providedtwo shuttles 32 in permanent diametrally opposed relation relative tothe axis XX.

The shuttles 32 are caused to slide on the fixed block 29 by the drivinggears 26, these shuttles being guided on the block by an annular V-slide33 (Fig. 2).

The angle y subtended at the centre of the machine by each toothing 31is greater than the angle x subtended by two adjacent axes YY, so thateach shuttle is in permanent engagement with at least one driving gear26.

The gears and 26 have identical diameters and the pitch-radius of thesector teeth 31 is half the pitch diameter of the teeth 23 of the wheel21 so that each shuttle 32 revolves about the axis XX in the directionof arrow f (Fig. 3) at the same speed and in the same direction as thewheel 21 when the latter is driven by the motor 5. To ensure goodperformance at high speeds, the pitch circles of the driving gears 26and the sector teeth 31 should be tangent at the meshing point, such aspoint 0 (Fig. 3). Now, owing to certain clearance in the V-slidemounting of the shuttles 32 on the block 29, the centrifugal forceexerted on the shuttles at high speeds has a tendency to throw thesector teeth 31 outwardly against the teeth of the driving gears 26 andrender the pitch circles of the latter and the teeth 31 non-tangent.

To avoid this drawback, a roller 34 is mounted on the shaft 27 aboveeach gear 26 (Fig. 3) in coaxial relation to the latter and an arcuatebacking plate 35 is fixed on each shuttle 32 in such manner that whenthe outer smooth face of the plate 35 is in contact with the roller 34the pitch circles are tangent at the points 0 of gear engagement. Thusat high speeds the pitch circles are maintained tangent at point c bycentrifugal force, resulting in a smooth vibration-free movement of theshuttle 32.

Each shuttle is provided with a fork arrangement 36 on which isrotatably mounted a bobbin 37 carrying wound weft thread a or 11 Theunwinding of the thread, caused by traction on the latter by the tubularfabric 0, is made regular and braked by a plate 38 which is pivotableabout a spindle 39 carried by the fork arrangement 36 and isspring-pressed against the thread on the bobbin by springs 39*.

The thread a or a of each shuttle passes, upon leaving the bobbin,through a device having three rollers 40, 41 and 42 which regulates thetension of the thread. The rollers and 41 are mounted on a plate 43having a vertical journal 44 which is rotatably mounted in a support 45secured, for example by screws 56, to the shuttle. The tension of theweft thread may be adjusted by passing it round a suitable portion ofeach of the rollers 40, 41 and 42. This tension is minimum when thethree rollers are in alignment, as shown in Fig.- 3, and is renderedmaximum by rotating the assemblage comprising the rollers 40 and 41, theplate 43 and the vertical journal 44 through 90 in the appropriatedirection in the support 45.

4 (d) Device supplying the warp thread b There may be a relatively largenumber of warp threads. Each thread is supplied by a bobbin rotatablymounted either on the frame A or exteriorly of the machine. In thepresently-described embodiment, each bobbin, such as bobbin 47 (Fig. 1),carrying the warp thread, such as thread b is rotatably mounted on anarm 48 secured to the frame A.

Upon leaving the bobbin 47, the thread passes firstly through a fixedeye 49 and thereafter through an adjustable thread-gripping device 50spring-loaded by a spring 56*. All the devices 50 are carried by a ring51 supported by arms 48 After it leaves the device 50, the thread passesonce more through the corresponding eye 49 and thereafter throughanother eye 52. The eyes 52 are carried by levers 52 pivotably mountedon a spindle 52 on the fixed block 29. A spiral spring 53 urges eachlever 52 to pivot downwardly and the force exerted by the spring is lessthan the braking force of the thread-gripping device 50.

Fixed to the block 29 above each pair of levers 52* is a singlemicro-switch 54 whose operating button 54 is covered by blade 54 whicheither of the levers 52, in pivoting upwardly in opposition to theaction of the spring 53, must deform before opening the switch 54. Theforce necessary to deform the blade 54 is greater than the retaining orbraking force of the device 50.

It will be observed that the various micro-switches 54 are disposed inseries (Fig. 1) in the supply circuit of the coil 5 controlling thepower supply to the motor 5.

After passing through one of the eyes 52, each of the two warp threadsof a pair of threads b and b passes through a thread guide tube 55 or55*.

Each of these tubes is capable of occupying in succession a raisedposition (that of tube 55 shown on the right side of Fig. 1 or of tube55* on the left side of the latter) so that the corresponding thread bor 12 issuing from the tube passes over the bobbin 37 of the shuttle andthe weft thread a or a or a downwardly retracted position (at 55 on theright side of Fig. 1 or 55 on the left side of the latter) so that thecone spending thread I) or b issues from the tube below thecorresponding shuttle and the support 45 for the rollers 44), 41, 42guiding the corresponding weft thread a or :1

It will be observed that the support block 29 is provided with radialrecesses or grooves 56 of sufiicient width to receive either of thetubes in its lowered position. a

The tubes 55?, 55 of a pair of tubes are carried by one or the other oftwo rocker-arms 57 and 57 pivotably mounted by journals 58 on the fixedsupport block 29. These journals 5% are engaged in recesses 60 (Fig. 3)formed in the support block on both sides of each recess 56 and they areheld in this position by plates 59 each of which is fixed to the base ofa post 61. The latter carries at its upper end a plate 62 to which arehooked two springs 63 each of which tends to raise to the raisedposition, such as position 55*, one or the other of two adjacent tubesby pivoting the corresponding rocker arm about its journals 58. Thetension of the springs 63 is advantageously adjustable, for example byadjusting the position of the hooking plates 62 along the posts 64), byproviding telescopic posts, or by hooking these springs to adjustablescrews screwed in the plates.

Under the effect of its spring 63, each rocker arm 57 or 57* bearsthrough a heel, seen in Fig. 2, against the outer end of a radialpush-rod 64 or 64*. These push-rods slide in recesses formed in theblock 29 and their axes, situated in radial planes, are slightlyinclined relative to the horizontal.

All the push-rods 64 pertaining to one of the tubes 55 of each pair oftubes hear, at their ends adjacent the centre of the machine, against aring 65 which is freely rotatable on a cam plate 66 which is fixed tothe wheel 21 so far as concerns rotatimal movement or the latter.Likewise, all the push-rods 6d pertaining to the tubes 55' of thepairsof tubes bear against the outer face of a similar ring 65* freelyrotatable on a second cam plate 66 The outer faces of the rings 65 and65 are made conical or bevelled so that the axes of the push-rods 64 or64 are perpendicular to these faces.

Each ring is mounted on the corresponding cam plate by means of a numberof anti-friction bearings such as the roller bearing 67 seen in Fig. 2so that these rings neednot move relative to the push-rods, thuseliminating friction therebetween. The two cams formed by rings and camplates fi -66 65" -66 are so arranged that their outer faces in contactwith the push-rods are eccentric relative to the axis XX. Theeccentricity or offset of the two cams are diametrally opposed relativeto the axis XX so that when, in the radial plane on the right side ofFig. l, the lower cam 66 pushes the pushrod 64 so as to retract or lowerthe tube 55 into the recess 56 in the block 29 the face of the upperearn $55 is retracted to a maximum extent truth the push-rod to permitthe corresponding spring 63 to raise the other tube of the consideredpair of tubes to a position 55 while the situation is reversed on theleft side of Fig. 1.

As the cams rotate at the same speed as the plate 31 and shuttles, oneof the latter therefore always passes between raised tubes 55 andlowered tubes 55 whereas the other shuttle always passes between raisedtubes 55* and lowered tubes 55 The pairs of warp threads [2 b and b btherefore reverse their positions for each change in the position of theshuttle, which results in the interlacing of the warp and weft threads.

The. contours of the cam are such that whena tube, such as tube 55 israised, two adjacent tubes 55 are completely lowered or retracted intheir grooves 56 before the arrival of the leading part of the shuttlein the region of these tubes.

(e) The device E which pulls on, and if desired receives, the tubularfabric The fabric constituted by a tube, woven to the diameterdetermined by the throat 16, is pulled by a pulley 67 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5)the rim of which compr' es a groove 68 in which the fabric is woundeither in an incomplete coil or in a whole or several adjoining coils,the fabric being, if desired, thereafter received on a reel (not shown)if this fabric is woven in a continuous sleeve or in great lengths.

This pulley 67 is rotatably mounted on a central spindle 69. The latteris pinned or otherwise secured to a supporting arm 7% which is pivotableabout a horizontal axis WW. The pulley 67 comprises laterally on itsperiphery external teeth 71'. provided for rotating this pulley in thedirection of arrow f by means of-the vertical shaft 27 of one of thesets of gears 535-26 through the mechanism F.

The device E is completed by a tension roller 72 which is freelyrotatable on a spindle 73 carried by an arm 74 pivotably mounted at 75on the end of the arm 70, the arm 74 being prevented rom freely pivotingby friction in this mounting.

(f) Drive mechanism F for the puiiey 67 As explained hereinabove, thepulley d? is rotated by one of the shafts 27 (the shaft shown on theleft side .of Fig. 1). This shaft 27 terminates at its upper end 83 to ashaft82. The gear83" is operatively connected to a horizontal transverseshaft 84 by a gear-connecting device comprising a plate 855 which, ispivotable about the shaft 82. and is adjustably secured in either one oftwo positions by means of a bolt 86 extending through the cover 87 ofthe housing 18. Fixed in the plate is a shaft 88 parallel to the shafts81 and 84 and, freely rotatable on this shaft 88 butrigid with oneanother, are a gear 89 and a gear 91 The gear 89 is always in mesh withthegear $23. If the shaft 84 is-displaced axially toward the housing 1'8and the plate 35is pivoted upwardly, it is possible to bring; anothergear 91, keyed to the shaft 84, in mesh with the gear 890-1 with thegear 90, depending on the axial displacement of the shaft 84. Thus it ispossible to drive the shaft 84 at either one of two speeds for a givenspeedof the shaft 27.

The shaft 84 must rotate the pulley 67 in the direction of the arrow firrespective of the direction of rotation of the shuttles and the.shafts 27; these shuttles and these shafts may of course rotate ineither direction, depending on the direction of rotation of the outputshaft of the motor 5 and the desired direction of the helical winding ofthe weft thread in the tubular fabric 0. In order to ensure that thepulley 67 always rotates in the direction of arrow f irrespective of therotation of the shaft 84, the latter may be operatively connected toteeth 71 by either one of two gear trains having reverse ratios. Theshaft 84 carries at its and adjacent the teeth 71 a gear 92 (Figs. 6 to8) which is in mesh with gears 93 and 9d, the latter being in mesh witha gear 95. The gears 93, 94 and 95 are carried by a tumbler plate 96capable of pivoting about the shaft 84. betweenextreme positions shownin Figs. 6 and 7.

In the position shown in Fig. 6 the gear 95 is in'mesh with the teeth 71which permits driving the pulley 67 in the direction of arrow i whilethe shaft84 is driven by the above-described transmission in thedirection of arrow f If the shaft 34 rotates. in the direction of arrowf the tumbler plate 96 is put in the position shown in Fig. 7, and. theteeth 71 are now driven by the gear 93 in, the direction of arrow f.

H. OPERATION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE LOUM The operation of the loom justdescribed will be dealt with briefly since it will be apparent from theforegoing description. When all the micro-switches 54 (Fig. 1) areclosed, the closing of the switch 5* causes, through the action of thecoil 5 of the relay, the closing of the contactor 5 The motor 5 issupplied with power and causes, through, the above-describedtransmissions, the rotation of the wheel 21 and the shuttles 32 forexample in the direction of arrow f while the pulley 67 is driven in thedirection of arrow f at high or low speed depending on the setting ofthe mechanism F; The setting shown in Fig. 5 corresponds to low-speedrotation; highspeed rotation is obtained when the gears 89 and 91 are indirect engagement.

Assuming that the tubular fabric 0 has already commenced and is alreadywound on the pulley 67, the tubular fabric pulls on the warp threads [2b -and on the two weft threads a a These threads are unwound from theirrespective bobbins and are interlaced in the requisite manner owing tothe successive raising and lowering of the guide tubes 55?, 55 beforethe passage of the shuttles.

It will be recalled that the tubes 55 are raised before the passage ofone of the shuttles whereas the tubes 55' are lowered and that thereverse positions are given to these tubes before the passage of theother shuttle. The weft threads a and a therefore occupy with respect tothe warp threads reversed positions which ensure the necessary weavinginterlacing.

During normal operation of the loom the shuttles rotate about the axisXX in a steady continuous motion without accelerations or clearancerelative to the driving gears 26, since correct engagement is maintainedfor each shuttle owing to the co-operation of the roller 34 and thearcuate plate 35. Thus, so far as concerns the shuttles, there is nopossibility of impact or noise. These shuttles are driven with astrictly continuous motion as though they were portions of a single gearwheel. Their rotational speed about the axis XX may therefore be as muchas that permissible for a gear driven by a gear pinion.

As, furthermore, the thread guide tubes are maintained in permanentelastic contact with the rocker-arms 57 and 57 which maintain withoutclearance the push rods in contact with the cams, all impact is alsocompletely eliminated so far as concerns these guides and their control.It will be observed that these guides are exceptionally light. Further,as the movement of the shuttle is not caused by the pivoting of thethread guides, the movement of the latter is merely necessary to allowfree passage of the shuttle, i. e. when the tubular fabric is carriedout with, for example, two shuttles, the raising and lowering of eachthread guide can be effected during the period of half a revolution ofthe shuttle round the fabric. Thus the period of mo' rment of eachthread guide is equal to half the period or rotation of the shuttles.The acceleration of the thread guides, which is inversely proportionalto the period of their movement, is therefore very small and the threadguides are therefore subjected to extremely small inertia forces.

Briefly, as clearance, friction and impact are substantially eliminatedand the inertias are very small, the machine may operate at high speedand have in consequence a very high output. The number of picks perminute is much higher than that possible with conventional machines.

It can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that the angle or shed z between thethreads, such as threads b b or b b resulting from the fully raised orfully lowered positions of the successive thread guides, is very largeand is the greater as the thread guides have a smaller diameter. Thus itis possible to dispose in the greater available space large weft-threadbobbins 37 so that renewal of these bobbins is less frequent. Moreover,these bobbins are readily accessible and easy to replace.

It will be noticed that one of the functions of the levers 52spring-pressed by the springs 52 is to maintain the warp threads whichpass through the eyes 52 under suitable tension during the pivoting ofthe thread guides 55 and 55 notwithstanding the fact that the distance de (Fig. 1) between the outlet end al of the guide 55 and the point ewhere the threads [2 b enter the weaving throat 16, is greater than thedistance d e relating to the guide 55 which is lowered into the supportblock 29 This difference is in fact compensated by the pivoting of eachlever 52 which modifies the thread length between the outlet of thethread-gripping device 50 and the inlet in the guide tube 55 or 55.

The fact that each guide 55* or 55 is returned to its raised position bythe action of the spring 63, renders preferable provision of a safetydevice for preventing movement of the shuttles should this return beincomplete, so as to prevent the shuttle striking the thread guide in anintermediate position thereof. This device consists in themicro-switches 54 whose blades 54" protect the push-buttons 54 In normaloperation, when the thread is pulled, each of the two levers 52*,cooperating with a common micro-switch, is capable of abutting the blade54* without deforming the latter; and the thread-gripping device 50allows thread to be pulled through. On the other hand, if for somereason, for example knotting or entangling of the thread, there occurs aresistance to the unwinding of the thread, as

soon as this resistance exceeds the force required to deform the blade54*, the latter is deformed by the corresponding lever 52 and depressesthe push-button54 of the switch 54. 'As all contacts of themicro-switches pertaining to the various pairs of guides are disposed inseries in the circuit of the coil 5 controlling the power supplied tothe motor 5 of the machine, the opening of this circuit by any of themicro-switches immediately stops the machine and an accident ordefective weaving is thereby avoided.

Only one micro-switch is provided for each pair of thread guides, sincein each pair a safety device is necessary for only one of the threadguides, that is the guide being moved to the upper position, the otherbeing positively or mechanically urged to the lower retracted positionby the cam 65 or 65* and push rod corresponding to this thread guide. i

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been hereinabovedescribed, many modifications and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

It will be understood that the loom may comprise n number of shuttlesinstead of two. in this case the two cams controlling the thread guiderocker-arm would be angularly spaced apart relative to the axis XX,their contours being such that when one thread guide is in its upperposition the two adjacent thread guides are in their lower positions,the upward or downward movement of the thread guides occurring beforethe passage of the shuttle. In the case of a machine having only twoshuttles, the cams are in the form of circular annular plates merelyoffset in diametrally opposed directions relative to the axis XX andthis permits constructing them with an outer ring 65 or 65 mounted onroller bearings forming an antifriction device. But this arrangement isnot possible if the cam has several rises. in this case friction may bereduced by providing each push-rod M or 64 with a roller or ball whichco-operates with the face of the corresponding cam.

It will be clear that there maybe provided as many shuttles as the spaceconsumed by the bobbins 37 and the desired quality of the tubular fabric0 permit.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular fabric, in combination: aframe; a fixed support on the latter; provided on said support anannular slide concentric with a fixed central axis; provided on saidslide shuttles in the form of sector gears movable along said slide insuch manner that they are capable of rotary movement about said centralaxis; driving gears journalled in said support for rotation about theirrespective axes which are at the same radial distance from said centralaxis to which they are parallel, these driving gears being disposed insuch manner that each of said sector gears is at every instant in meshby its gear teeth with at least one of said driving gears; provided onsaid support and said frame driving means for rotating the driving gearsand,

through the medium of the latter, rotating the sector gears about saidcentral axis; a rotatable grooved pulley adapted to pull on and ifdesired receive the woven tubular fabric and a driving device connectingsaid pulley to one of said driving gears so that the rotation of thispulley is proportionate to that of the shuttles, said driving devicecomprising a speed reversing mechanism per- 'mitting' a pull to beexerted on said woven tubular fabric by the pulley irrespective of thedirection of rotation of the shuttles.

2. In a circular loom for weaving tubular fabrics, in combination: aframe; a central tube fixed on said frame and having a centrallongitudinal axis; a fixed annular support on said frame around saidcentral tube; on the radial distance from, said central axis; saiddriving gears being so disposed that each of said sector gears is atevery instant in mesh by its gear teeth with at least one of saiddriving gears; a rotatable driving wheel mounted on said annular supportand concentric to said central tube, and adapted to rotate said drivinggears and, by means of said driving gears, to rotate said sector gearsabout said central axis; a weft thread bobbin on each sector gear;guides for the warp threads, said guides being pivotably mounted on saidannular support; each of said guides comprising a light-weight tube anda heel rigid with said tube located beyond the pivot axis of said guide;said support comprising in the region of each guide a recess; each guidebeing adapted to occupy a retracted position in said recess below saidslide and a raised position which allows the bobbins carried by saidsector gears to pass under the Warp thread guided by said guide; andactuating means for pivoting said guides, said actuating meanscomprising at least one central cam mounted for rotation about saidcentral tube on said driving wheel, and for each guide a push-rodinterposed between said cam and said heel of the guide, and a resilientdevice urging said heel against said push-rod and the latter againstsaid cam.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,072,984 Petersen Sept. 9, 1913 1,327,677 Kennedy Jan. 13, 19201,423,619 Loomis lluly 25, 1922 1,683,385 Frederickson Sept. 4, 19281,872,168 Nanfeldt Aug. 16, 1932 2,487,148 Latieule et a1, Nov. 8, 1949FOREIGN PATENTS 7 383,032 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1932 396,970 GreatBritain Aug. 17, 1933

